Revisiting Sangiovese

Information about Sangiovese:

• Janice Robinson give a wonderful history of the Sangiovese grape in Italy and beyond. Link to article
• Article by The Spruce Eats
• Wine Searcher
• VinePair

On May 9th we tasted 3 Sangiovese wines.  My favorite by far was the Riserva. It was good to revisit Sangiovese.  I'm liking this wine.

2011 Podere il Palazzino Grosso Sanese, Chianti Classico Riserva, DOCG

We also tasted a Pinotage
from South Africa

 
abv 13% $29.69 at Trigs
Varietal: 100% Sangiovese
Region: Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

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Info from Wine Searcher on Chianti Classico

Chianti Classico wines must contain a minimum of 80 percent of the Sangiovese variety. The remainder can be made from native grapes such as Canaiolo or Colorino, plus international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Wines made only from Sangiovese have been permitted since 1996. The use of white grape varieties such as Malvasia and Trebbiano was prohibited 10 years later.

There are three quality levels within Chianti Classico wines: Annata (the standard wines) Riserva and Gran Selezione. Riserva wines must be aged for 24 months before commercial release. A Chianti Classico Gran Selezione must be made from a single estate and have been aged for a full 30 months.

Wine.com

Tech Sheet

Marc de Grazzia Selections

Tasting Notes

Medium garnet in appearance. Medium- aroma intensity with flavors of cinnamon, leather, vanilla prune and bark cherry. The wine is dry with medium tannin, and acidity. Medium+flavor intensity, medium body and medium+ finish. The flavors are of bright. cherry vanilla, chocolate and a little vegetal. I likes this wine the best. I enjoyed it with food and the next also enjoyed on it's own.

2015 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico DOCG, 

abv 14% avg price, $20
Varietal: Sangiovese (90%), Merlot (10%)
Region: Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

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Chianti Blend from Wine-searcher

Wine Enthusiast

Gary's Wine and Market Place

Opening a Bottle

Tasting Notes

This wine was more ruby in color with medium intensity. The aroma is medium intensity with dark cherry, dark chocolate and cinnamon. The taste is dry with medium+acid, tannin and finish. The flavor is medium as is the body. The flavors are similar to the aroma with a little more vegetal and currant.

2016 Castello Banfi Chianti Classico DOCG, 

abv 13% avg price, $14

Varietal: Predominantly Sangiovese with small amounts of Canaiolo Nero and Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

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from Wine.com

Tech Sheet from Banfi

More info from Banfi

Tasting Notes

The wine is medium ruby in color. Medium-aromas of blossom, sour cherry, vanilla, tobacco and vegetal. The wine is dry, medium+ acid and tannin. The finish flavor and body are medium. The flavors are tobacco, sour cherry and vegetal.  This was my least favorite on it's own.  It did taste very good with tomato sauce and sausage.